Happy Birthday, Mom! Thanks for the Genetics!

Isn't genetics weird?  

I look at our new grandaughter and marvel that in a way, she is 1/4 me.

She  is 1/4 Mike.

She is 1/8 Mike's Mom, Carol.

She is also genetically linked to a bunch of other people on Eric's side of the family!

A new child represents bits and pieces of two families genetically linked.

That is a strange but wonderful concept to me!

Elise and Cordelia are also genetically 1/8 my Mom. 

Today  is my beautiful Mom's birthday!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I was hoping that Elise would be born on Grandma Grace's birthday but she got in a bit of a hurry.

My Mom represents all that is great about motherhood.

She is warm, caring, protective and kind.

She is also compassionate, creative and really quite beautiful.

Another thing I know for certain about my Mom is that she is wishing she were here to 

hold that new little great-grandchild! 

Soon, Mom!

In the meantime, the following pictorial review of our beautifully exhausting

week is presented here today, especially for my Mom. 

We are all so very glad to be genetically

linked to you!

  

The Men in Their Lives

Cordelia and Elise are two very lucky little girls.

They have something a lot of children do not.

They have an abundance of good men in their lives.

First, they have a loving, long-distance uncle.  Uncle Ben lives far away but has remained involved and interested in his nieces.  I know it was hard for him this week to be so far away.  He made a lot of phone calls, worrying about his sister and the baby during labor and rejoicing with the news of the birth.  Both girls will grow up knowing their Uncle Ben loves them, no matter how far away.

Uncle Sam is very much a part of their lives.  Cordelia already feels comfortable playing with him and and loves him dearly.  I am certain Elise will feel the same.  Although technically still a teenager, Sam is a solid young man and will also give the girls the idea of how a man should treat them.

We all know about Grandpa Mike, right?  He is gentle yet fun and I am sure that Elise will clamor to be near him just as Cordelia does.  Like Cordy says, "You are my boy, Grandpa!"

The girls have uncles, cousins and a grandpa on their other side of the family as well.  They have so many men to care about them!  For a long time, though, the most important man in their lives will be their Dad.  As grandparents I can't tell you what peace it brings us to know they will be raised by Eric.  He is such a good man and he loves their mother so much.  Those girls will, without a doubt, witness a good and kind marriage.  That has got to mean a lot when they are making choices in their futures.  

Blessings for My Grandchildren

Thank you for the positive reactions to my jewelry tradition idea.  And yes, EJN, I'd be honored if you used the idea.  I'm sure I'm not the only grandma to do such a thing.

Let me tell you my favorite idea!  OK, it isn't original at all.  Bible stories mention blessings being given to children.  While I'm not sure if my idea of a blessing is quite what they were doing,  I decided I wanted to do a blessing.  I am not smooth enough to do it spontaneously so I planned ahead and wrote it all out.  I carried it around in my purse for weeks so that I'd have it with me for the birth.  Even though I had it memorized, I read it off the paper to be certain I got it exactly right.

Nearly three years ago, moments after Cordelia's birth, I spoke (actually cried) these words...

May the Lord come near to you and call you his own.

May he give you a sure heart and a kind spirit.

May you always know him as your source of strength.

I wrote out a copy for her baby book and it is my intention to cross-stitch it for her someday.

On Tuesday, when Elise was so new she was still steaming (not really), I spoke this blessing for her...

May God shelter you with mercy and wrap you in love.

May he pour into you both courage and compassion.

May you always trust him to light your path and be your power.

On both days I traced the cross on each girl's forehead.  If anyone wants to copy this plan, go for it.  If you have trouble getting started, try reading scripture.  I found inspiration from the Psalms as well as other passages.  I didn't directly use any particular Bible verse but maybe you'd like to.  Also, is there any reason this couldn't be done for a birthday or any other special day?  It doesn't have to be on the day of birth.  I'd love to hear your thoughts or ideas of ways to incorporate blessings.

I took about a thousand photos this week, but this one is my favorite.  Maria was so glad to be reunited with Cordelia after being separated from her during the last part of labor and the sweet sisters were having their first face-to-face.  Although Daddy isn't in the photo, he was just to the side of his girls.

People, it just doesn't get any better than this.

Elise Ione!

Elise Ione was born yesterday and she is beautiful!

I made the nurse take this photo when I was spending some time along with Elise up in the nursery.  Do you notice I am wearing the cross necklace that I said would someday be Elise's?

Starting Traditions

I have become more and more aware of how precious tradition can be to the story of a family.  As such, I've got a few traditions I started when Cordelia was born; things I want to do for my grandchildren.

As I mentioned before, one thing I want to do is give each child some piece of jewelry that is mine but that they will inherit someday.  It doesn't need to be an expensive piece of jewelry.  I just wanted something that they see me wear, see in photos from the day of their birth, and something that represents what is important in my life.  I chose a ring with a cross on it for Cordelia's birth.

I made certain that I was photographed, holding newborn Cordy, with the ring in view.  I wear it frequently so that someday, when it is her's, she will remember it being mine.

This is what I have chosen for this next baby girl:

I've got it on and I am ready to go!  I think it will be soon! 

River View

Ooops... I forgot to write a proper post and I've got to leave for work EARLY.  I didn't want to leave you hanging, though.  I took photos this week-end of the North Platte River.  

Being near water soothes my soul.   

Only a Matter of Days Now!

It is just a matter of days now.  

Soon, our beautiful daughter will be delivering another sweet little girl.  

I do not take these blessings lightly.

Deep Thoughts

Isn't he a handsome boy?  I think he's such a pretty color!  In this photo don't you think Bode looks as if he is having some wise, deep thoughts?

Actually, he is likely realizing he shouldn't have eaten those 4 or 5 cupcakes, wrappers and all, when I left the  kitchen.

Seeing Red

Before we begin, maybe I'd better provide a disclaimer.  This is kind of a nurse post.  You may as well know, nurses are not always appropriate.  It isn't our fault.  We are trained that way.


Nurses have to chart EVERYTHING about their patients.  We chart a lot about potty and poop.  I know, it's personal.  Have you ever been hospitalized? Well, I don't want to creep you out but somewhere there is likely a chart about how much you urinated and how many bowel movements (bm) you had.  Sometimes there is even descriptions regarding size, color, consistency.  I'm not kidding.  

Are you getting nervous?  If so, feel free to quit reading right now.  I don't want to damage anyone.

OK.  Anyone still reading?

First, let me start with a food review:

These chips are yummy!  Mike & I munched on them on a recent picnic.  The bag contains orange chips made from sweet potatoes.  It also has red chips made from beets.  I was proud of Mike for tasting one of the red chips as he is not a lover of beets.  I DO love beets!  The chips certainly do taste like their originating vegetables so it wasn't a surprise that Mike didn't so much enjoy the beet chips.  I did not mind that Mike gave me all the red chips to eat.  I thought they were delicious!

Several hours after the picnic, long after the taste of the chips were gone from my mouth, I experienced a worrisome symptom.  I wasn't sure what to make of the red color in the toilet bowl.  Surmising I likely had bladder cancer I am just glad that I hadn't already made a doctor's appointment.  Yep.  Once the beets were through my system everything returned to normal.

Marriage Goal

On the news last night I saw a couple who have been married for more than 70 years.  They had no words of wisdom to offer.  They just liked spending time together and they were fortunate enough to both live long, healthy lives.  It made me wonder if I would have any words of wisdom for people regarding marriage.  Later, I was reading a book and came upon the following quote.  It seemed worth passing along.

The goal in marriage               

is not to think alike, 

but to think together.

         --Robert Dodds 

The Thing About Loyalty

Today, we are celebrating our country.  I have always felt blessed to have been born in the United States of  America.  I know our country has a lot of flaws, but I've also always known that there was a lot of good about being an American.  I also know that I had a lot of opportunities available to me simply based on my country of origin.  I am grateful that I am an American.  I feel loyal toward the United States of America!

Loyalty is a good thing, right? Whether it be family loyalty, school spirit or national patriotism, it seems humans have a need to be proud of something bigger than themselves.  It gives us a sense of "belonging".  Perhaps it makes us feel special, maybe even protected and secure.  I think there is a lot of good that comes from that.  Loyalty helps us work together toward common goals.  


For some reason, though, we humans have a hard time being loyal while still seeing the big picture.  Somewhere along the way I realized that feeling loyal toward one group led me to feel that other groups were inferior or maybe even a bit evil.  Oh come on, don't judge me!  You've probably done it as well.  Maybe you come to feel loyalty toward a sports team and then feel obligated to dislike fans of an opponent team.  Perhaps you love the state where you live and laugh when others make disdainful jokes about the idiots from the next state.  In Montana I heard North Dakota jokes.  In New Mexico I heard people making rude comments about Texans.  Here in Wyoming I hear people making blanket negative statements about people from Colorado.

Do you see where I am going with this?  We seem to draw circles around ourselves and see those outside the circle as "others", not as potential friends.  Our circles may be based on country, age, race, religion, financial status, what side of town we live in, what team we cheer for, the list is unending.  Why do we do that?  It is so limiting.

So, today I am celebrating being an American.  I am so grateful for the freedoms I have and the opportunities made available to me through the efforts of others before me.  I am feeling proud of all that is good about our country.  Even so, I am going to make the effort to notice outside that circle, to see the goodness in "others" because ultimately my loyalty belongs much higher than to just this one country.  

One of My Favorite Things

Probably the time in my life when I felt the most like "me" was 

when I was rocking my babies to sleep.  

They are all a bit big for that now and those days seemed behind me.  

However, grandmotherhood (if that is not a real word it certainly should be) 

gives me a chance for a bit of a rerun of one of my favorite things.  

I love that!

A Word From Pastor Mike: Top 10 Reasons to Worship Weekly

Yesterday Mike began his sermon with the "Top 10 Reasons of Why You Should Worship Weekly."  I thought you might enjoy them.

10)    Going to Worship is better than listening to someone scrape their fingernails on a blackboard.

 9)     People who worship have fewer cavities than people who don't brush at all.

 8)     Worship promotes weight loss.  No big meals - only low calorie bread and wine served at      communion.

 7)     Worship provides aerobic routines for you... stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down...

 6)     Worship provides another place for you to sing other than the shower.

 5)     People who worship cut down their exposure to dangerous ultra violet rays.

 4)     Baptism provides the side benefit of clean hair.

 3)     Candle lighting at worship provides a safe environment for your children to play with fire.

 2)     Worship exposes you to some of the nicest people and the greatest sinners.  Have fun by guessing who's who.

 1)     People who worship receive free grace, unconditional love, and a great retirement plan.

Yes, most of it was tongue in cheek.  That last one is a kicker, though, don't you think?

Mike's sermon spoke of God's ability to change and transform lives.  He spoke of Jesus welcoming imperfect people.  He spoke of how he strengthens the faithful, forgives the sinner, gives hope to the hopeless and changes stubborn minds.  I think most of us need to hear these words.

Scenes From a Wyoming Golf Course

Shopping Day

I don't really like to shop too much.  I thought I wasn't quite a natural woman but as it turns out, I've heard other women say they don't like to shop.  How about you?  Do you enjoy shopping?

Perhaps I should qualify my statement about shopping.  The truth is, I LOVE to shop on line.  It makes me feel guilty, though.  I feel I should be supporting local businesses, especially the small ones.  Do you feel that way?  So, today I am going shopping and I am leaving my living room to do it.

First on my list is a new washing machine.  Our's came with the house.  When we bought the house 8 years ago I thought the washing machine looked like it was on its last leg.  It died a noisy death this week. It has carried us along for 8 years, though, so I won't complain.  I wouldn't likely buy a washing machine online, either, so it makes sense I'd have to go out and about for that.  I'm not looking for fancy or pretty.  Our machine sits in our basement laundry room where looks are not important.  I just want clean clothes.

Next, I have to shop for work shoes.  Previously I've worked where I could wear closed toe hiking sandals, even without socks.  I've loved that for Summer!  However, I now work at a surgical center so the rules are more strict regarding staff footwear.  I'm really, really tempted to shop online for shoes.  I've had some great luck with Zappos and places like that.  If the shoes aren't quite right they are easy and free to ship.  They usually get them to me in 1 to 2 days as well!  I like to reward good practices such as that but I am determined to shop locally first.  Nurses out there, any advice on work shoes?

I probably  need to stop at a grocery store today as well.  I don't really know what I need just yet, but I am sure I need something.  I always do.

The first bit of shopping to be done today, though, is to hit a giant yard sale (garage sale).  Do you call it a yard sale, garage sale or something else?  Our whole subdivision has one week-end every summer where they pool their advertising resources and do their yard sales on the same day.  I do NOT enjoy having a garage sale, do you?  However, I actually do enjoy attending yard sales so that part of my shopping day will be delightful.  Do you enjoy garage sales?  Maria and Cordy will be garage sale-ing with me so that will make it fun.  Cordelia always adds a touch of sparkle and class to any adventure.

(file photo)

(file photo)

I can hear the traffic in our neighborhood already picking up.  I don't feel the need to join those out for the early finds.   I'm content to look over the left-overs when I get there.

So, although I don't really enjoy shopping, I think this will be a good day.  I hope it is for you as well!

Andy Mason Concert

Yesterday I picked up Maria and Cordelia and we headed to an Andy Mason Concert.  He's been here in town for a couple of days and Maria and Cordy had already been to at least one concert but were eager to attend again.  Andy is actually a friend of their's and has been staying at their house so they got to enjoy some private concerts as well.

Maria and Eric, in fact, were hired to create one of Andy's videos.  One of my favorites was a song about making a burrito.  Cordy's little diaper clad bum was featured in that one.  It was pretty cute!

Andy does more than entertain little kids and their parents and grandparents.  He wrote a song, sung by Amber Wiley, called "Smile".  ALL the proceeds go toward an organization called Smile Train.  Check out their site here.  They work to repair cleft palates for children around the world, giving them a reason to smile. I love that Andy does this.  If you want to help, go to Andy's Site, scroll down and purchase the song, Smile.  I'd recommend his other music as well.  It's just fun!  Let me know what you think!

Cordelia had such a good time at the concert!  There were lots of children there and they really got into it.

Andy, Warming Up the Crowd

 Cordy Doing Some People-Watching

 Cordy Making Friends

 Chillin'

Where There is Smoke There is Fire - Somewhere

Yesterday morning I felt like I was driving to work in a fog.  No, I don't mean I was sleepy.  It really, really looked foggy.  It wasn't, though.  For one thing, it is dangerously dry here right now.  I wish it had been fog, but it was smoke.  Every direction I looked was a smoky haze!  I couldn't tell for sure the direction or origin. I'm still not sure as there are fires to the South of us, West and North.  Again this morning the smoke is making my eyes water.  It's really a breathing hazard as well.

We aren't really all that close to any of those fires, not so far this year anyway.  Several years ago the mountain near us was on fire, though, and it was close enough that we had ash dropping in our yard.  It was just a little taste of what people all over the western U.S. are experiencing right now.  So many lives are disrupted; so many people are worrying about their homes.

Fire is so strange when you think about it.  It is so scary and so destructive.  It can be life-saving or life-endangering, used as a campfire or storming along as a monstrous wildfire.  It is also very beautiful and very powerful.

When I checked on Facebook this morning I found a lot of photos, such as the one above. I am a bit ashamed to say that I am mesmerized by the photos.  The power of fire is just so incredible.  However, it makes me so grateful for people who have taken the time to learn to battle fires on our behalf.  It sounds like one of the worst jobs in the world to me.  They purposefully run toward the danger while people like me just want to get far away.


I can't imagine what it would be like to look at a photo such as that knowing one of those houses was your's.  My heart goes out to those folks.  And worse, I see video on television of people unable to cross the barrier to get to their neighborhood to try to get to family members, not knowing if they are safe.  I am certain I would not handle that very well.

Looking at so many photos of all those fires made me realize how small and insignificant people are in relationship.  This world doesn't even really need us; maybe we just get in the way.  That makes it all the more incredible to me to know that God treasures us and cares about us.  I don't always understand why that is, but I am ever so grateful.

Starting My Morning Off Right

My new job requires me to be up and about plenty early.  I got up at 4:50 yesterday and left the house about 40 minutes later.  Although sleeping a bit longer would have been lovely, I don't really mind because right now I am getting to enjoy the sunrise on my way in to work.

As I drove I was listening to KLOVE, as usual.  One of the songs I was hearing was Alive, sung by Natalie Grant (click on the second arrow to hear a taste of it).  My view was a magnificent as the song!  What a lovely beginning to the day!

On Being the New Girl

My first day at my new job was just lovely.

There are some good things about being the new girl.  For one, your new co-workers aren't yet sick of your scrubs.  All my uniforms will be new to them, well, at least for about 10 days.

Another good thing, not much was expected of me the first day.  Of course I didn't know the routine and mostly I was just to follow people around, observing what they do.  That was fun.  Today I will go with one patient (I've been assigned to a child) from the beginning of his journey until he's ready for discharge.  That includes being present with him during his surgery.  That will be interesting!

The part about being a new girl that can feel most awkward is the same part that was difficult as a new kid in elementary school... lunch time.  Having only 30 minutes didn't give enough time to go out to lunch.  I'd brought along something I could eat, though, and was happy to just go outside and sit at a picnic bench.  It was fine but it did make me remember those awkward new girl days from childhood.

Recess and lunch were the most scary that first day at a new school.  In the classroom you pretty much knew or were told by the teacher what to do, but lunch and recess had less structure and more time to look awkward.

I hadn't brought much lunch yesterday.  I just prefer to eat real light when I might be in a stressful situation.  That's a Crohn's strategy.  That's kind of why I avoided the staff lounge.  I didn't want to have to already explain why I wasn't eating much and all the Crohn's stuff.  Funny, huh?  Especially since I am ok with telling it here on the internet for anyone to read.  Go figure.  Anyway, 30 minutes turned out to be much more time than I needed to eat.  I texted Mike.  I texted Maria.

I texted my sister, Tina.  I texted my friend, Kerry.  I still had some time so what did I do with it?  I pulled weeds near the picnic table.

See what I mean about looking awkward?

Lord I Lift Your Name on High

I love to sing.  I love to hum.  I do it a lot.  As I clean, as I drive... I'm sure that is not unusual.  Music has a lot of power!  It has so much power, I've decided to be careful what music I listen to as it influences me so much.  Several years ago I decided to keep the radio in my car set on KLOVE.  Why?  Well, they refer to their music as being "positive and encouraging".  Hey!  That's what I want to be!  I learned that if I listened to that on my way to work, I was able to maintain a positive and encouraging attitude a bit more throughout the day.

  

I am also on our Worship Team at church.  I enjoy that a lot!  

(stock photo from 123rf.com)

OK, that photo may not be of me but I'm pretty sure I look kind of like that when I sing...except I am older...and I would not wear sunglasses in church...and my microphone is on a stand which I am scared to approach... I don't usually wear a hat because I think my head is already kind of large... and the wind machine is not ever on me when I sing... there may be a few other differences as well.   OK, I'm no more than an average singer, I'm middle-aged and I generally sing standing very still with my hands to my side.  Even clapping when singing is difficult for me.  Other than that, I pretty much look like this person.

Seriously now...

Music has come naturally to me when helping a really frightened patient.  Whether starting an IV or wiping a bottom, humming lightens the moment.  Maybe it just lightens my mood but I think it helps the patient focus on something besides the task at hand as well.

I was once called to the side of a young adult patient nearing the end of her life.  She was conscious and uneasy.  She'd previously told me she was a Christian so with her permission I prayed for her.   Then, knowing she had been active in her congregation, I asked if she wanted me to sing to her to help her relax.  She said that she did.  I started singing Amazing Grace  then moved on to the The Old Rugged Cross.  She listened politely but I didn't feel it was calming her that much.  Then, I decided to sing Jesus Loves Me.  Even though she could only barely make sounds, she started to sing along!  I kept singing but tears were rolling down my face.  She looked and sounded so beautiful to me.  

I thought she fell asleep at the end of that song so I sat quietly by her side for a bit.  When I was about to leave she opened her eyes and whispered a question.  I had to ask her to repeat it several times but finally realized she was asking if I knew the song, Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.  I was so happy because it is a song our worship team sings so I knew all the words.   We sang that song over and over and over with her voice only a whisper and mine choked with tears.  The quality of our voices did not matter.  Finally, she was tired and able to rest.  I left quietly, fully aware that I'd just been allowed to be part of something truly beautiful.  

Maybe I will have the opportunity to sing with her someday in heaven when we will have strong, pure voices.

To hear a sample of the song that meant so much to her, click here.

New Job Day!

I have been kind of quiet about my career swerve since mentioning that I resigned my position at Hospice.  I've been feeling like a quitter.  The last two weeks, after I gave my resignation, have been rather brutal.  I'm not talking about the patients. I love, love working with hospice patients!  I also enjoyed working with some very wonderful co-workers.  The long hours (sometimes 14 or even more) and the increasing patient load were just a bit much for me.  OK, they were a LOT much for me.    I don't know if it is because I have Crohn's that I seem to get more worn out but I'm going to use that excuse.

Anyway, it is time that I look forward.  I will be working at a surgical center.  I will not be working the long shifts.  I will be home on week-ends.  I will get to start a lot of IV's (yes, don't be scare of me but I do like starting IV's), and I will get to calm and reassure people.  I have a dear friend who already works there and I look forward to working with her again.  She speaks highly of the other personnel there so I know I am going to meet more friends along the way.  I will have a lot to learn but it will be great!

Here's to new beginnings!